Insufficient rainfall, declining groundwater: Water tanker bookings in Hyderabad increase by 36% in July

Hyderabad: Water tanker bookings in Hyderabad have increased by 36 per cent this July.

It reflects the city’s growing dependence on tankers amid insufficient rainfall.

Highest bookings in western city areas

Between July 1 and 14 this year, consumers booked 86,520 tankers, compared to 63,724 bookings during the same period last year.

The highest number of bookings was reported from Divisions 6 (S R Nagar), 15 (Hafeezpet), 9 (Kukatpally), 18 (Manikonda), 22 (Nizampet), and 10 (Saheb Nagar), according to officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB).

“The demand is expected to rise further, and we must gear up to meet it efficiently,” HMWSSB managing director K Ashok Reddy cautioned.

Emergency meeting to tackle rising demand

Alarmed by this surge, Ashok Reddy convened an emergency meeting with officials at Khairatabad. He instructed staff to maintain strict vigilance over tanker bookings and ensure timely deliveries.

Declining groundwater levels deepen crisis

Officials said the dependence on tankers has been increasing due to inadequate rains over the past three years, along with insufficient rainfall so far this monsoon. Groundwater levels have dipped significantly in several parts of the city, they added.

Current tanker operations

At present, 1,135 tankers are supplying water in two shifts within HMWSSB limits, filling water at 140 points through 88 filling stations. Of the 14 lakh water connections under the Water Board’s jurisdiction, only 42,000 households are booking tankers, officials noted.

CM warns of hike in tanker rates for non-compliance

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has urged citizens to construct rainwater harvesting pits on all premises above 300 square yards within the Outer Ring Road limits. He warned that the government would not hesitate to increase tanker rates for households failing to implement rainwater harvesting systems.